Carton closing means



July 27, 1937.k L H. L. EVANS CARTON CLOSING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1'Filed April 2l, 1936 INVENTOR. azzy .E1/ams) ATTORNEY.

July 27, 1937. H. 1 EVANS CARTON CLOSING MEANS Filed April 2l, 1956 5Sheets-Shel??l 2 ATTORNEY.

July 27, 1937. H. L. EVANS CARTON CLOSING MEANS Filed April 2l, 1956 5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. l 17:72 ,Ez/wras,

A ATTORNEY.

July 27, 1937. H. L. EVANS CARTON CLOSING MEANS Filed April 2l, 1936 INV ENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

x Se July 27, 1937. L, EVANS' v2,088,192

' CARTON CLOSING MEANS Filed April 21, 1956 5 sheets-sheet' 5 INVENTOR.)Yay/1:7 I Z1/ams] BY d ATTORNEY.

Patented July 27, 1937 UNITED STATES meant PATENT FFEQE CARTON CLOSINGMEANS Application April 21, 1936, Serial No. 75,527

9 Claims.

This invention has for its principal object to provide improved meansfor setting up or squaring cartons, initially supplied to the machine infiat or collapsed condition, and thereafter closing the side aps andtuck end closures thereof; and the invention seeks to provide means forsuch purposes which attain more perfect control over the carton duringthe stated operations, and which are more positive in action, so thatrisk of accidental spoilage of cartons, with consequent interruption ofthe operation of the machine as a whole, is reduced to a minimum; whileat the same time the manipulation of the closure fiaps and tuck endportions of the cartons is so carried on as to break the elasticity ofthe folds or defining scores thereof, whereby, when finally moved toclosed position, the same have no tendency to outward reactivedisplacement or loosening from their fully and properly closedconditions.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularlyenumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detaileddescription of the same.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of means for setting up the carton and for closingthe side aps and tuck end closure at one end thereof; Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section, taken on line 2 2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan viewsomewhat similar to that of Fig. l but showing the operation of settingup or opening the carton from the fiat;

ig. i is a longitudinal section, taken on line 4--i in Fig. 3; Figs. 5,6 and '7 are fragmentary longitudinal sectional Views, respectivelyshowing various steps in the operations of closing one end of thecarton.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of means for closing the side flaps and tuckend closure at the other or opposite end of the carton; Fig. 9 is atransverse vertical section, taken on line 9 9 in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is asimilar fragmentary view showing the final operations effective to closethe tuck end closure; and Figs. 11 and 12 are fragmentary detail frontelevations, showing steps in the final operations effective to close thetuck end closure of the carton.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above describedviews, to indicate corresponding parts.

wIn the drawings the collapsed or flat cartons C are stacked in a supplymagazine I, from which the same are ejected to and upon runway 2 by areciprocated push-plate 3. Cooperative with runway 2 is a squaringelevator 4 which is vertically reciprocated, by suitable actuating means(not shown), in timed relation to the delivery of the cartons. When ininitial downwardly retracted position, the upper extremities 5 of theforward stop arms E of said squaring elevator project somewhat above thesurface of said runway 2, while the'chamfered extremity I of therearward lift arm 8 thereof is withdrawn below the surface of saidrunway 2. The space intermediate said stop arms 6 and lift arm 8 isapproximately equal to the width of an expanded or squared carton. Whena flat or collapsed carton is pushed outwardly from the magazine I, itis carried forwardly onto the runway 2 until it abuts the extremities 5of the stop arms 6, whereby the downwardly facing side portion of thecollapsed carton overhangs the chamfered extremity 'I of the lift arm 8(see Fig. l). When a carton is thus delivered ready for a squaring orexpanding operation, the side fiap a', which projects from thedownwardly facing side of carton C at the inward end thereof, willunderlie a fixed breaker tongue 9 which is supported by an arm I Dsecured to and projecting from the magazine I.

Arranged in longitudinal alignment relative to the described deliveredposition of the iiat or collapsed carton C, and opposed to the vinwardend thereof, is a guide bracket II, provided with guideway means I2guiding the longitudinally reciprocating timed movements of a clampblade I3. Said clamp blade I3 is supported by said guide bracket and itsguiding means so as to be capable of limited vertical oscillation orplay. Aflixed to the forward end of said guide bracket, at the sidesthereof, are bearing portions I4 in and between which is mounted atransverse axle shaft I5, upon which is mounted a clamp blade depressorroller I6. Movable in a vertical bore I'I with which the body of saidguide bracket is provided, is a spring pressed push-piece I 8, the bodyof which is preferably made of lignum vitae, being thus stronglyresistant to wear and offering a minimum frictional resistance tooperative movements of the clamp-blade. Said push-piece I8 operates toyield-ably thrust the clamp-blade I3 upwardly against the depressorroller I6. Clamp blade I3 is provided in its upper surface with alongitudinally channeled way I9 cooperative with said depressor rollerI3. At its forward end, said way IS is provided with a descendinginclined camming plane 23, leading to a depressed portion ZI thereofadjacent to the free forward end of the clamp blade. When the clampblade is retracted to normal initial position, said depressed portion 2!of way i3 underlies depressor roller I6, so that push-piece i8 upliftsthe forward end or chamfered nosiug 22 of said clamp-blade I3 to spacethe saine above the level cf runway 2. By reason of such spaced relationto runway 2 of the free end or nosing of clamp-blade i3, when a flatcarton.C..is delivered onto said runway, and into stopped relation tosaid squaring elevator, the tuck end d' of end# closure member c at theinner end of carton vC will pass beneath the uplifted cha1nferedextremity or nosing 22 of clamp-blade i3v (see Fig;

2). Fixed upon the upper surface of clampblade I3, in a proper positionrearwardly spaced from its free end, is a centering block 23. Also xedupon the upper surface of clamp-blade I3, in a proper positionrearwardly spaced from its free end, is a side ap breaker block 2G,which has a chamfered or inclined forward end 25, the same beingoperative upon carton side nap b', as the operative stroke of saidclamp-blade occurs.

Immediately after a collapsed carton C is delivered onto runway 2 and inregister with the squaring elevator, timed operating means (not shown)functions to advance clamp blade i3. In thus advancing, the cammingplane 23 ino-Jes beneath the depressor roller i9, whereby the forwardfree end of clampblade I3 is forced downwardly flatly upon theunderlying portions of the carton body, whereupon, as the clamp bladefurther advances, the same will enter between the face walls of thecarton. As clamp blade i3 approaches the end of its operative stroke,the forward end of centering block 23 engages the end margin of theoverlying face wall of the carton, and thereafter, as the clamp bladecompletes its stroke the carton is pushed endwise against a fixed stop26, which engages the end margin of the underlying face wall thereof,thus centering the carton relative to the equa-ring elevator, anddisposing the tuck end d of end closure member c and side flaps a and b,all at the forward end of the carton, in proper positions relative tothe mechanism which is subsequently operative to close these parts.

'Ihe clamp blade i3 having entered the carton interior operates tofirmly clamp or hold the underlying face wall thereof flatly andimmovably upon the runway 2, and thus secures the same subject to theoperation of the squarng elevator. These operations having beeneffected, timed operating means (not shown) functions to move upwardlysaid squaring elevator, thereby thrusting the lift arm S upwardlyagainst the downwardly facing side portion of the collapsed cartonthereby swinging upwardly the side portions and overlying face wall ofthe carton body to squared or expanded condition. Supported from thebearing portions I4 which are mounted on the guide bracket, preferablyby means of a forwardly projecting bracket plate 2l which is affixed tothe bearing portions lll, is a vertically isposed transverse stop-plate2B having a tail-piece which is adjustably connected with said bracketplate 3'1, as by the slots 33 and screws 3l, so that said stop-plate 28may be adjusted to an operative sition accommodating the particular sizeof carton operated upon. When the squaring elevator expands the carton Cfrom its flat or collapsed condition, the raising of the overlying facewall carries its rearward end margin into abutting relation to the outerface of said stop-plate 28, so that the expanded carton body is thusheld against endwise displacement between said stopplate 28 and saidfixed stop 2B, and thus also immovable when the clamp blade I3 isretracted to normal initial position, and thereby withdrawn from thecarton interior, which operation is timed to occur during the closing ofthe forward end of vthe carton.

Asthe carton is. advanced against stop 26 by the entering clamp bladeI3, the tuck end d of its'endclosure member cis caused to ride upwardlyon a fixed breaker arm 32 which bends back said tuck end d along thescore line between the saineand closure member c, thus taking thespring" out of the joint provided at said score line, so that when theforward end of the carton is closed tendency to outward displacement ofsaid tuck end d is eliminated.

Located adjacent to the outer side of said runl,way 2, are upstandingspaced apart bearing frames 33 and 34. Pivotally connected with b eai'-ing frame 33 is a more or less weighty keeper member 35, which extendstransversely across the forward end of the' raised or expanded cartonC,'being heldin engagement with the latter by gravity, and therebytending to hold the carton against vertical displacement during theoperations of closing the side aps a and b and end closure c with itstuck end d which extend from the forward end of said carton body C.

The means for closing the forward end of carton C comprises thefollowing mechanisms:

Journaled in and between the bearing frames 33 and 3l?. is a shaft 36which is driven by suitably timed power transmission means (not shown).Fixed on said shaft 35, so as to be revolved thereby, are a pair ofspaced apart rotating folder members 3'! and 38; the one, as 31, beingpositioned to operate on side fiap a, and the other, as 38, beingpositioned to operate on side ap b, and both being operative upon theend closure member c and its tuck end d. Folder members 3l' and 33 arepreferably of a segmental shape, respectively having operativecircumferential faces 39 and -t which are concentric to the axis ofrotation and the plane surfaces of which are parallel with said axis ofrotation. Folder member 3l is provided with a leading end 4| coincidentwith its circumferential face 39. Beginning at this leading end d I, theinner lateral side of folder member 3'! is shaped to provide an angularcam face l2 helically extending to merge into said circumferential face39. The inner lateral side of folder member 3S is also shaped to providean angular cam face d3 hciically extending to merge into itscircumferential face et. The leading end portion of folder member 38 istruncated, as at di, thus forming van effective leading end l5 (fromwhich said cani face 3 extends), which is spaced circiunferentiallyrearward as related to the position of the leading end il of foldermember 3l'. By reason. cf these relative differences between foldermembers and 33. folder member 31 acts upon side flap a and initiatesinturning folding or closing movement thereof in advance of theinitiation of similar inturning closing movement of side flap b byfolder member 33. Owing to this arrangement and the consequent mode ofoperation, folding of side flap b follows folding of side ap a, andconse-- quently no interference of the flaps one with the other canoccur, especially in eases where the length of the flaps approximates orsomewhat exceeds one-half the width of the carton body.

Formed in the respective circumferential faces 39 and i6 of each of thefolder members 31 and 38, rearwardly of the point where the cam facesthereof merge with said circumferential faces are indented portionsbounded by inwardly extending seating faces 46 which are angular to saidcircumferential faces, the inner ends thereof terminating at somewhatoverhanging shoulders 41. Said seating faces 46 are equal to the lengthof tuck end d of the carton end closure member c, which they are adaptedto engage, and the junctures of said seating faces 46 with thecircumferential faces form fold aligning ridges 66. The junctures of theouter ends of shoulders 41 with the circumferential faces form foldernosings 49. Journaled in and between the bearing frames 33 and 34,outwardly of said folder member shaft 36, is a rock-shaft D. Fixed onsaid rock-shaft 50 is an inwardly extending arm 5l provided at its freeend with a presser member 52 which overhangs said folder members at aposition intermediate the same. Fixed on said folder member shaft 35 isa cam 53 adapted to be rotated with said folder members. -This cam isprovided with a high or lift section 54, terminating at its trailing endin an abrupt drop or step 55 intermediate said high or lift section andthe low section of said cam. Cooperative with said cam 53 is a lever arm56 aixed to rock-shaft 5E; said lever arm having a. roller stud 51operatively engaging the periphery of cam 53. Said rock-shaft isyieldably turned to maintain said lever arm 56 and its roller stud 51 inoperative engagement with cam 53; the means for the purpose comprising alever arm 58, aiiixed to rock-shaft 5E), which is subject to the pull ofa spring means 56.

Journaled in and between the bearing frames 33 and 34, inwardly of andabove said folder member shaft I36, is a second rock-shaft upon whichare fixed oscillatable push-fingers 6I. Also fixed on said rock-shaft60, between said push-fingers 6I, is a center push-finger 62 having atits free end a nosing 63 which leads the effective faces of saidpush-fingers 6I. Said push-fingers are normally up-swung, subect to atimed down-swinging movement, for purposes to be described; rockshaft 6lhaving a crank-arm 54 actuated by a link 65 from a suitable actuatingmeans (not shown), whereby said push lingers are oscillated by therocking of said rock-shaft.

Subsequent to the squaring or expanding of the carton, as abovedescribed, timed rotation of shaft 36 revolves the folder members 31 and38 in clockwise direction, whereby the leading end of the angular camface 4.2 of folder member 31 engages and initiates the inturning offolding movement of side ap a, and after side flap a is thus started theangular cam face 43 of folder member 38 initiates a like inturning orfolding movement of side flap b. In the meantime the leading ends of thecircumferential faces 39 and 40 of folder members 31 and 38 pass beneaththe outwardly projecting end closure member c and its tuck end d, untilthe latter enters the indented portions thereof and overlies the seatingfaces 46. As said tuck end d is approached by said seating faces 46, thehigh or lift section 54 of cam 53 is effective to turn the rock-shaft 56so as to upswing the presser member 52; by the time, however, seatingfaces 46 are disposed beneath tuck end d, the roller stud 51 of leverarm 5S passes the step 55 and drops olf the high or lift section of cam53, whereby the rock-shaft 50, under the influence of its control spring59, is turned to swing presser member 52 down upon tuck end d, thuspressing the same flatly down upon the seating faces 5, with thejuncture of tuck end d and its closure member c bent across aligningridges 48, thus assuring, in the subsequent operations a true and squarebending of tuck end ci relative to. closure member c along the scoreline at the juncture thereof, and preventing any tendency to crookedrelative bending moveents of these parts (see Fig. 4). As the foldermembers 31 and 38 continue to revolve, the extremity of tuck end d,which abuts the shoulders 41, is withdrawn from beneath presser member52 and ncsings 49 engage said tuck end d with inturning effect thereuponwhich tends to double or fold the same inwardly and beneath end closuremember c while at the same time upswinging the latter about its scoredjuncture with the carton body, thus breaking the latter joint and elimi-,nating any spring therefrom (see Fig. 5). As folder members continue torevolve, tuck end will be infolded until it escapes nosings 49, and isengaged by the trailing ends of the circumferential faces 39 and 46 ofsaid folder members, until finally the trailing ends underlie the thusinfolded tuck end d. By the time this has occurred, the osciilatablepush-fingers (il- 52 are moving in downswinging direction to engage endclosure member c (see Fig. 6), so that as said trailing ends 65 offolder members 31-33 move downwardly to lower the extremity of tuck endd into registration with the open end of carton body and beneath theinfolded side flaps a-b, said pushfingers continue to swing down withdownfolding effect upon end closure member c, while at the same timeoperating to thrust tuck end d into the carton interior (see Fig. 7)thus completing the closing of the forward carton end. The leadingnosing 63 of the center push-finger 62 engages the body of end closuremember c, since said center push-finger 62 is shorter than the outlyingpushfingers 6l, and by its inward pressure upon an intermediate portionof said end closure member c, tends to push inward such intermediateportion and the underlying side aps olf-b, so as to somewhat stretch thejoints of these parts with the carton body, thus not only assuring atightly and fully closed condition thereof, but further aiding ineliminating any spring tending to a reaction of these parts from thedesired tightly and fully closed condition thereof.

After one end of the carton has been closed, the same may be upturnedand passed on to receive the content desired to be 4enclosed therein,whereupon the opposite end of the carton is closed to complete the fullclosure thereof. The means for manipulating the side flaps a and b' andend closure member c with its tuck end d', to thus close the filling endof the carton, comprises the following mechanisms:

After a carton is lled it is received in upstanding position, with itsopen end upward upon a runway E1 along which it is propelled step bystep, for submission to closing mecha nisms, which in kind and generalarrangemeni approximate those disclosed in prior U. S. Letters PatentNo. 1,733,538. The means for propelling the cartons through runway Si'is shown ani described in the aforementioned U. S. Letter` Patent No.1,622,709, and comprises a longitudinally reciprocable rock-shaft 58 towhich is se cured by bracket blocks 5! a carrier lil having a series ofinwardly projecting push-pieces the latter being spaced so as to receivethe cartons therebetween. The carrier T9 is oscillated by the rockingmovement imparted to rock-shaft 68 so as to withdraw the push-pieces 'ilfrom carton engaging relation upon the retractive or recovery stroke ofthe carrier and then engage the same with the carton during theoperative or advancing stroke of the carrier. Supported adjacent torunway @l are longitudinally spaced standards i2, having at their theirupper ends laterally offset bearing members 73, portions of whichoverhang said runway 6l'. Journaled in and between said bearing members'E3 is a driven shaft l, which may be actuated by chain and sprockettransmission 'i5 and gearing 15. Fixed on said shaft id, so as to berevolved thereby, are a series of arms il, 'i8 and '19. Arm 'l1 isprovided with a primary liner folder 80 and arm IES with a secondaryliner folder Si, which function to fold a liner with which, in semecases, the carton may be provided; while arm '9 is provided with a sideflap folding cam @2 operative upon side flap a' of carton C, all as moreparticularly described in aforesaid U. S. Patent No. 1,733,588.

Secured to a bearing member 'I3 beyond the group of folder arms, to lieadjacently above the path of movement of the cartons, is an anvil piece83 having at its rearward end a rounded folder nose 84, to engage andinfold side flap b' of carton C as the same is advanced beneath anvilpiece 83. As carton C moves under anvil piece, and comes to a stop whilethe carrier is recovering for a succeeding operative stroke, the endclosure' 85 and mechanism carried thereby. Fixed on said shaft 85 is atuck-end folder and creaser 89, which swings down upon and folds saidtuck-end d' over said anvil piece 83.

Fixed on the carrier 1G is a tuck end holding and guiding block 90having an angular face 9|, to hold the tuck end d in the position towhich it has been turned by the folding of the same over anvil piece 8S,and also having a stop projection 92 to retain the end closure means c'in proper position preliminary to final closing and tucking operations.Said nal closing and tucking operations are performed by push-fingermeans carried and oscillated by said oscillatable shaft Said push fingermeans comprises a pair of spaced push ngers 93 and 94; one of which, as93, is rigidly fixed on shaft 85, and the other of which, as 9G, isloose on said shaft 85 subject to a limited yielding movement asdetermined by a radial pin 95 fixed in the shaft and engaged in a slot95 provided in the hub of said push finger 9d. Projecting from the hubof push finger 94 is an anchor post 91 to which is fixed a pull springS8, the opposite end of which is connected with an anchoring support 99aiixed to the adjacent bearing member 13. Spring 98 yieldingly holds thefree operative end of push finger 94 advanced beyond the fixed positionof the free operative end of push finger 93. Pivotally connected withthe free operative ends of each of said push fingers 93 and 94 areyieldable ironer pieces |89, provided, to spring upwardly and outwardlyfrom their pivoted ends, with controlling arms lol. Said arms areprovided with laterally projecting stop pins |02, which, by engagementwith the backs of said push fingers limit the initial projected movementof said ironer pieces. .Springs |03 interconnected between said arms |04and the anchor posts 97 which project from the hubs of said push lingersfunction to yieldably project said ironer pieces |00 from the operativefaces of the push-fingers.

The above described construction of means :for manipulating and closingend closure member c' and its tuck end d', the tuck-end holding and.guiding block 9B being a'ixed to carrier 10, is caused to engage tuckend d as folded over anvil piece 83 so as to hold the same in the foldedposition as it is slid away from the latter while the carton is advancedby carrier l0 to a position beneath the normally upraised push-fingers93- 94. As held by the block 90, tuck end d is so positioned that itsfree extremity is registered vopposite the carton mouth between theouter .face wall thereof and the infolded side flaps a' and b', thusbeing disposed ready for engagement by said push-ngers 93-94. 'Iimedoscillation of shaft 86 produces a down-swinging movement of saidpush-fingers S33-94. Since pushfinger 94 leads push-finger 93 it firstcomes into contact with end closure member c adjacent to the far end orside thereof, so that as it moves downward the left hand corner oftuck-end d' (as viewed in Fig. 1l) is first started into the carton,subsequent to which push-finger 93 comes into action with a followinglike action upon the opposite side or end of the closure. By reason ofthis novel mode of operation, all risk of jamming of tuck-end d isavoided, and its proper entrance into the carton mouth without catchingand without tendency to buckle or bend is assured. Since push-finger 94is capable of a limited backward yielding against tension of the spring98 and due to its pin and slot connection with actuating shaft 86,continued movement of the latter will carry push-finger 93 onward whilepush-finger 94 dwells, and consequently tuck-end d and end closuremember c will be fully urged throughout their extent to tucked andclosed relation to carton mouth when push-nger 93 reaches the downwardlimit of its movement. Owing to the provision of the yieldable ironerpieces |00 in connection with said push-fingers, end closure member cwill be initially engaged toward its hinged connection with the cartonbody, and as the push-lingers swing down, these ironer pieces |00 tendto exert an outwardly ironing or smoothing effect upon end closuremember c from its said hinged connection; thus preventing any buckling,bulging or bending effect and assuring a smooth, flat-lying closeddisposition of the end closure member c.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the abovedescribed constructions, and many apparently widely differentembodiments of this invention could be made without departing from thescope thereof as defined by the following claims. It is thereforeintended that all matter contained in the above description or shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

I claim:-

1. In mechanism of the kind described, a support upon which a flatcollapsed carton is delivered to lie endwise across the same, areciprocable clampblade to enter the collapsed carton, a xed stopengageabl-e by the forward end of the carton body, a centering block onsaid clamp blade to engage the rearward end of the carton to push theforward end thereof against said xed sto-p when said clamp bladel entersthe carton, means to expand the collapsed carton after the clamp bladeenters and engages the same, and a second fixed stop to engage therearward end of the carton body after the latteris expanded.

2. In mechanism of the kind described, a support upon which a flatcollapsed carton is delivered to lie endwise across the same, areciprocable clamp blade to enter the collapsed carton, a xed stopengageable by the forward end of the carton body, a centering block onsaid clamp blade to engage the rearward end of the carton to push theforward end thereof against said fixed stop when said clamp blade entersthe carton, means to expand the collapsed carton after the clamp bladeenters and engages the same, a second fixed stop to engage the rearwardend of the carton body after the latter is expanded, and means to engageacross the expanded carton body adjacent to its forward end to hold thesame against vertical displacement from said rst mentioned xed stop.

3. In mechanism of the kind described, a support upon which a. flatcollapsed carton is delivered to lie endwise across the same, areciprocable clamp blade to enter the collapsed carton, a fixed stopengageable by the forward end of the carton body, a centering block onsaid clamp blade to engage the rearward end of the carton to push theforward end thereof against said fixed stop when said clamp blade entersthe carton, means to expand the collapsed carton after the clamp bladeenters and engages the same, a second fixed stop to engage the rearwardend of the carton body after the latter is expanded, means to engageacross the expanded carton body adjacent to its forward end to hold thesame against vertical displacement from said first mentioned fixed stop,and means to manipulate side flaps and an end closure member and itstuck end at the forward end of the carton for closing said end thereof.

4. In mechanism of the kind described, a support upon which a flatcollapsed carton is delivered to lie endwise across the same, areciprocable clamp blade to enter the collapsed carton, a depresserroller cooperative with said blade, means to yieldably press said bladetoward said de presser roller, said blade having a camming planecooperative with said depressor roller operative on carton enteringmovement of said blade to depress its forward end portion from aninitial raised position permitting carton portions to pass under thesame into carton clamping relation to said support, a fixed stopengageable by the forward end of the carton body, a centering block onsaid blade to engage the rearward end of the carton to push the forwardend thereof against said stop when said blade enters the carton, meansto expand the collapsed carton after the blade enters and engages thesame, and a'second fixed stop to engage the rearward end of the cartonbody after the latter is expanded.

5. In mechanism of the kind described, a sup.- port upon which a atcollapsed carton is delive ered to lie endwise across the same, areciprocable clamp blade to enter the collapsed carton, a depressorroller cooperative with said blade, means to yieldably press said bladetoward said depresser roller, said blade having a camming planecooperative with said depressor roller operative on carton enteringmovement of said blade to depress its forward end portion from aninitial raised position permitting carton portions to pass under thesame into carton clamping relation to said support, a fixed stopengageable by the forward end of the carton body, a centering block onsaid blade to engage the rearward end of the carton to push the forwardend thereof against said stop when said blade enters the carton, meansto expand the collapsed carton after the blade enters and engages thesame, a second fixed stop to engage the rearward end of the carton bodyafter the latter is expanded, means to engage across the expanded cartonbody adjacent to its forward end to hold the same against verticaldisplacement from said first mentioned fixed stop, and means tomanipulate side flaps and an end closure member and its tuck end at theforward end of the carton for closing said end thereof.

6. In mechanism of the kind described, a sup port upon which a fiatcollapsed carton is delivered to lie endwise across the same, a fixedbreaker tongue to overlie the underside side flap at the rearward end ofthe carton, a reciprocable clamp blade to enter the collapsed carton, abreaker block on said blade to engage the upperside side flap at saidrearward carton end when said blade enters the carton, means to expandthe collapsed carton after the blade enters and engages the same, meansto center the carton and hold the same against endwise displacement whenexpanded.

'7. In mechanism of the kind described, a sup port upon which a flatcollapsed carton is delivered to lie Iendwise across the same, a fixedbreaker tongue to overlie the underside side flap at the rearward end ofthe carton, a reciprocable clamp blade to enter the collapsed carton, abreaker block on said blade to engage the upperside side flap at saidrearward carton end when said blade enters the carton, means to expandthe collapsed carton after the blade enters and engages the same, meansto center the carton and hold the same against endwise displacement,when expanded, and means to manipulate side fiaps and an end closuremember and its tuck end at the forward end of the carton for closingsaid end thereof.

8. In mechanism of the kind described, a support upon which an expandedcarton is disposed to lie endwise across the same, means to hold theexpanded carton against shifting on said support, and means tomanipulate side faps and an end closure member and its tuck end at theforward end of said carton for closing said end thereof, comprising apair of spaced rotated sectoral folder members having circumferentialfaces concentric to the axis of rotation and angular cam faces at theirinner sides Vextending helically to merge with said circumferentialfaces, said circumferential faces being indented adjacent to theirtrailing ends to provide inwardly inclined tuck end seating faces havingfold aligning ridges at the junctures thereof with said circumferentialfaces, stop shoulders at the inner ends of said seating facesterminating at their junctures with said circumferential faces in pushnosings, an oscillatable presser member timed to engage the carton tuckend flatly upon said seating faces and to break the fold thereof acrosssaid aligning ridges, and means synchronized with the movement of saidfolder members for i vmoving the carton closure member to closedposition while thrusting its tuck-end into said carton.

9. In mechanism of the kind described, a support upon which an expandedcarton is disposed to lie endwise across the same, means to hold theexpanded carton against shifting on said support, rotatable foldermembers to manipulate side flaps and an end closure member and its tuckend at the forward end of lsaid carton for closing an end of the latter,a pair of laterally spaced oscillatable push-lingers adapted to swingdownward the carton closure member into closed relation to the cartonend while thrusting said tuck end into said carton, said push-fingersbeing operative after 'said closure member arid its tuck end areoperatively positioned relative to said carton end by said foldermembers, a push-linger intermediate the members of said pair of pushngers and adapted to be simultaneously oscillated therewith, and meansto actuate said push-lingers in timed relation to said folder members,said intermediate pushnger being' :shorter than the first mentioned pushfingers, and having at its free end a nosing o l projected beyond theeffective face planes of the latter.

.HARRY L. EVANS.

